Now that I think of it, Tony and I had just one real date. The one at the rooftop. It would have been embarrassing to say that to the world.

Madame Lourdes was giving us a lesson about hosting. Even if I already knew this, I still listened so I could gain more information for the party we were hosting on the first of december.

Speaking of that party, we were done with planning. We also decided to wear similar light blue gowns to look accomodating. We agreed not to wear any extravagant jewelry to seem humble.

When the lesson was done, I went back to my room, only to find an envelope sitting on my bed. I smiled at the familiar hand writing and opened it. I grabbed the letter inside in a hurry, excited to recieve a letter.

Dear Haidee,

You haven't been writing to us, I'm hurt. I'll just assume that Zeke's been treating you well since you haven't come home yet, but really, tell me if he does something funny and the four of us and dad will be storming inside the palace to kill that boy. I'm sure the queen and prince consort will understand. Vince has been complaining that you aren't there to cook for him. He misses your cooking and so do I. Xavier is courting that girl next door, Cory? I forgot her name. Atlas has been busy with med school but he still comes home. Dad is still working hard even with the compensation the palace is giving. Mom is also working. There's been a lot of customers lately, and I think it's because you're one of the Selected. I've been working with Dad but the girls around the village still chase after me now that you aren't around. How I wish you were still here to chase those girls off. We miss you Haidee. Come visit some time. We love you.

Your favorite brother,
Austin

I smiled. I could almost hear his voice when I read this. I scrambled to get some pen and paper to start writing.

Dear Austin,

Sorry I haven't been writing to you. I've been busy. The palace is treating me well and since when did you call him Zeke? Tell Vince that I'll cook for him when I get home. And it's not Cory, Austin. It's Corianne. Tell Xavier that he's too young but also tell him to take care of the girl, she's very sweet. Tell him that if he made her cry I'll kill him. If you see Atlas tell him to rest, it wouldn't kill him to sleep. Tell mom and dad that they don't need to work hard. They should also rest. Besides, you can handle it right?

As for those girls . . . give them a chance. I just realized that if I keep driving them away, you might not have a wife and children. And I want kids to call me aunt. You never know, one of those girls would be the love of your life but please not Zaira. She's awful. Try Ariana, she's nice.

I also miss you guys. Tell the others too. I love you guys! If I could, I'd drag all of you here.

Your favorite sister,
Haidee

I folded the paper neatly and placed it in an envelope. I told the guard stationed outside my door to send it and of course, he obliged.

I dropped to my bed, staring at the ceiling of my room. Madame Lourdes told us that lunch would be delivered to our rooms. I didn't know what to do until then.

My friends were also in their rooms. As far as I know, no one had a scheduled date today so everyone would be at their rooms.

Ever since the Report, Gayle and her gang kept giving me dirty looks as if I've been lying. I ignored them but Claire didn't. She returned their glares and seriously, if it weren't for me, Julianne, and Christine restraining her, she would have been sent home for violating the rules.

No one has been eliminated since Margarette and I'm not complaining. I've been close to a few of them, including Mary, Elena, and Louise.

I really didn't know why Mary or Elena weren't included in his top ten instead Gayle and Carmel. I didn't know what he sees in them. If I had to guess, Gayle is here because she'd be a fine ruler but Carmel?

I heard a knock on the door so I yelled, "Come in!"

Georgia entered holding a tray of food on one hand and a piece of paper on the other.

"Hi, Georgia I greeted and approached her. I took the tray from her hand and sat on the small table on my balcony.

She smiled at me before giving me the paper.

"Have you eaten?" I asked her.

She nodded, "Read the paper."

I looked at the paper.

Haidee, meet me in my room after you eat, tell Harriet, Claire, Christine and Julianne to come too.

-Celestiana

"What is this about?" I asked her.

She shrugged, "Don't ask me. I'm just a maid, remember?"

"Georgia, you're not just a maid." I told her.

She smiled, "Whatever. Go eat your lunch and leave it their when you're done. I'll just get it later."

I nodded and she left. I ate my lunch while staring at the garden. The garden was beautiful as always. The way the sunlight hit the bushes and trees looked majestic. The warm breeze hit my face as I enjoyed eating while sightseeing.

I finished my lunch and brushed my teeth. I walked down the hallway to Christine's room which was the closest to mine. I knocked on her door and told her that Celestiana was requesting our presence after she opened it. We went to Claire's next, then Julianne and Harriet.

When we were complete, we went through a series of hallways on the second floor before finding ourselves infront of Celestiana's room.

I opened the door and saw her talking to Aino.

"Finally!" Celestiana exclaimed and pulled us into the room.

"Why are we here?" Claire asked.

"Your gowns came in and we wanted to do a dress fitting to make sure it fits." She said and immediately, the four of them appeoached the gowns, "Your names are written there." She added.

They went to the bathroom to change with Aino. Then they all came out wearing the dress that had laced sleeves and a turtle neck. The skirt reached their knees and the designs were naby blue flowers.

They looked regal in the royal blue dresses.

"Wow!" Celestiana exclaimed, "You girls look amazing!"

They smiled as they examined themselves in Celestiana's huge mirror.

"What about Haidee's?" Harriet asked.

"I already fitted mine a long time ago." I answered.

"What? Why?" Christine asked.

"She's the maid of honor." Celestiana replied.

They nodded understandingly.

"Of course she'd be the maid of honor," Claire commented.

"What about the other three?" Julianne asked.

"Adalene can fit it with Abrianna and Cara." Celestiana said.

"If they're fitting their gowns, what am I doing here?" I asked.

"Have you finished the bouquet?" She asked.

"Oh, that." I nodded in understanding, "Yes, I've planned out the flowers."

"Great! Just give me a list of those flowers and I'll have them arranged." Celestiana clapped happily, "Next thing, I'll be introducing you to your partners so we wouldn't have any complications. Although the other three boys are also not around."

I felt excited even if I knew who my partner was. I can't wait to see my friends with their partners. If ever none of us or one of us got chosen, I'd take a picture of each of us with our partners and tease them for life.

"Wear the clothes you've been wearing earlier. Quickly now, we're going to William's room."

The five of them rushed to the bathroom and in less than five minutes, we were already parading to the third floor where William's room was located.

I always wondered why Celestiana's room was in the second floor and not on the third floor. The third floor was the floor of the royals right? Why wasn't she there?

She knocked on the door across from Tony's room. William's face greeted us and welcomed us into his gigantic room.

Inside the room were William, Tony, Earl, Twain, Aimo, and two other men I didn't know.

Celestiana's and William's hands intertwined automatically upon contact. They smiled at us and looked at each other to tell the other to tell us our partners.

William cleared his throat, "Ladies, and gentlemen. We are gathered here today forㅡ"

Celestiana hit his torso to which he laughed at.

"You know why you're here today so let's get to the point." William said, "Let's start with the best man and maid of honor. Zeke please come in front with Haidee
"

He approached me with a smile and offered his arm to me. I rolled my eyes at him but couldn't contain my smile. He looked like what he always looked likeㅡexcept for his hair. In a white dress shirt and formal pants. His brown hair was a mess but he looked amazung nonetheless. His blue eyes were warm as he looked at me. We walked to the front beside William.

"Next, Julianne, please come in front with Earl." Celestiana said.

Earl obviously didn't care about formalities now because he just grabbed Julianne's hand and dragged her infront beside Celestiana.

"Is he always like that?" I whispered to Tony.

He chuckled, "That's barely a sctatch of his personality."

I shook my head and laughed, "Poor Julianne."

"Nicholas please come in front with Aino." William said.

"Who's Nicholas?" I asked.

"William's best friend." He replied.

"Claire and Twain." Celestiana stated.

"Aimo and Harriet." said William.

"Lastly, Christine and Abraham." Celestiana stated and now we were all with our partners.

"You should remember your partner's face at the wedding." William said.

"Like I'd forget," I muttered but Tony heard.

He smirked, "You won't forget me?"

"How could I?" I asked, "Everybody knows you."

He shrugged, "Point taken."

"To everyone here, you should know that you will perform something for us at the reception." William announced.

"What?" Claire asked.

Celestiana smiled, "The bridesmaids and groomsmen should. So I suggest you plan something now even without the other six. Just discuss it to them when they arrive."

"Butㅡ" Aino stopped when Nicholas put a finger on her lips.

"Hush, darling." He said.

William smiled widely at this and he high fived with Nicholas.

"We'll be going now. Go plan your performance." Celestiana ordered and walked out of the room hand in hand with William.

Aino glared at Nicholas but he just laughed at her.

"Should we lead them?" I asked Tony.

He nodded, "We're the best man and maid of honor, right?"

I took a deep breath, "Get their attention." I told him.

Everyone was chatting with their partners. Aino and Nicholas were bickering. Julianne was getting impatient with Earl's constant nagging. Harriet was talking to Aimo happily. They liked each other's company, I could tell by the smiles on their faces. Christine and Abraham were also talking to each other. Claire and Twain were laughing at Julianne and Earl.

"Let's discuss the performance," Tony stated.

Nobody listened. They kept doing what they were doing.

"Everybody, please be quiet." Tony commanded.

Still, nobody listened. I smirked at him, "Seems like you can't control your people, huh?"

He rolled his eyes, "Guys! Listen!" He said more loudly.

But it barely reached their ears. The noise was getting more and more noisy. The more it got noisy, the more it got irritating.

"This is pointless," Tony said with a sigh. "They just won't listen."

I rolled my eyes, "This is getting annoying."

He nodded, "They can't keep their mouths shut."

I didn't want to do it but they give me no choice. I took a deep breath before yelling, "KEEP YOUR MOUTHS SHUT! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DISCUSSING?!"

Tony looked at me wide-eyed and so did the others.

I glared at them and lowered my voice, "Boys go to my right, girls to my left. Can't you stop fighting?"

They obeyed me wordlessly, clearly terrified of my outburst. I felt guilty but if this was what it took, then so be it.

"Now that you're away from each other," I took a deep breath to calm myself and looked to Tony to signal him to take over.

He cleared his throat, "Does anyone have a suggestion?"

Earl raised his arm, "A play about their honeymoon."

The boys laughed and so did Claire and Harriet.

I glared at Earl and approached him. Everyone turned silent that I even heard my heels clicking on the floor. I pinched his ear painfully, "What did you say?" I said, venom lacing through my words.

He gulped and gripped his ear that was still held by me, "A-A play about honey the moon."

I released his ear and walked back to the front. Tony didn't meet my eyes and I saw that everyone feared me.

This was what I always do to my brothers when they get out of hand. They know I can be quite scary when I need to be.

I looked at Tony to signal him to continue again. I crossed my arms in front of me and leaned on the wall, I glared at the people in front of me, daring them to even say something funny.

"Anything else?" Tony asked.

Christine raised her arm, "A song?"

Tony nodded, "But not everyone here knows how to sing."

"A dance then," Claire said.

Tony looked at me for approval and I nodded.

If this scene wasn't so serious, I would have laughed at him. He even turned to me for my say in this! He was going to be the future king and he asks me for what I think.

"That settles it then," I stated and uncrossed my arms, "What dance do you have in mind?"

Earl raised his arm. I glared at him, "That better be serious," I threatened.

He gulped and nodded, "I have a video of it."

He approached us and showed us a video on his phone. I nodded as I watched the video. It had nine pairs which was convenient because we were also nine.

I certainly liked the dance. I looked at Tony as if to ask, 'Do you like it?'

He nodded with a smile, "Alright. Show it to the others if they like it."

Earl went back to the others and showed them the dance. Claire nodded in agreement as she tapped her foot to the beat. Julianne seemed to get the song now and she was humming it. Christine and Harriet looked at each other with approval. Aino and Aimo smiled at the dance, it almost seemed like they remembered something from it. Twain and Nicholas were studying the dance, already trying to memorize it. Abraham tried some of the steps.

I smiled, "I'm assuming everybody liked it?"

Claire was the first one courageous enough to talk to me, "I like it. It looks simple but it's challenging."

I needed to remember to apologize about my attitude a while ago. Their reactions made me drown in guilt. Tony and I looked at each other as if making a silent agreement to make him talk.

"It's settled then. Let's talk about the costumes first," Tony started.

"Let's just replicate the ones they're wearing in the video," Abraham stated.

Harriet shook her head, "I think we should just use the clothes we're going to wear at the wedding so there won't be a hassle in changing."

"Good point," Aino said, "Our dress is just knee-length right? It would be easy to dance in."

I raised my hand, "Mine reaches my ankles."

"Right, you're the maid of honor." Aino said.

"That's your problem. We don't need to change outfits. We always wear suits to formal occasions," Aimo said with a shrug.

"Sucks to be a girl," I mumbled and Tony laughed beside me.

"So we definitely need new outfits," Julianne commented. "What color should they be?"

"Maybe we should just go with blue since it's the theme," Christine commented.

Claire nodded, "Maybe another shade of blue?"

"How about a light one?" Harriet suggested, "So we'd stand out from the crowd of royal blues?"

I nodded in agreement and so did the others.

"Alright, enough of this gown thing. Let's just start practicing," Nicholas said.

Aino rolled her eyes at the boy, "Whatever."

"Wait," I said and they all looked at me expectantly, Earl showing nervousness. "Sorry for yelling at you guys earlier and, Earl, sorry for being harsh on you." I smiled sheepishly.

I could see Earl let out a sigh of relief and he broke into a smile, "It's okay. Just surprising. Also I did need the scolding."

I smiled at his statement.

Julianne smiled, "It's okay, Haidee. And as much as I hate to say this, Earl's right. We were just surprised."

Earl smirked, "So you finally admit it, huh?"

Julianne rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue at him. I laughed.

"You're a surprisingly scary girl when you're mad." Christine commented.

I smiled, "That's barely what I do to my brothers."

Harriet gasped, "Oh god. I don't even want to know what you do to them."

"You can be a nice leader, Haidee." Aimo stated with a smile.

"And you say you're not fit to be queen," Tony whispered to me and laughed.

I rolled my eyes with a smile and hit his side with my elbow, "Oh shut it."

Tony clapped his hands once, "Let's get started!"